Nicaragua was in the middle of a civil war in 1855. The Conservative party based at Granada and the Liberal Leonese factions were at war with each other. The Granada (also called the Legitimist faction) was, for the time being, victorious, and so the losing Leonese faction sought to gain an advantage, by the enlisting Walker to their cause. Seizing this chance to bring himself once more into the limelight, he enlisted some sixty men (including a ten man personal bodyguard of Cubans) called the Immortals and he set sail, May 3, 1855.

Some weeks later, Walker landed at San Juan del Sur near Realejo, and almost immediately began to assert his authority. With the aid of sixty recruits, who had arrived from California under Parker H. French, and the Leonese Nicagraguan troops, was defeated at Rivas, but, being re-enforced with 170 native soldiers, routed the Granada controlled Nicaraguan army of 540 men at La Virgen on 1 September. Walker and the Leonese then took possession of the city of Grenada on 15 October, and by a treaty with General Ponciano Corral. His capture of Granada brought an end to the fighting.

After obtaining recognition (May, 1856) from the United States for the new government, Walker declared himself president of Nicaragua in July, 1856. Recruits rapidly arrived from the United States, and on 1 March, 1856, Walker had 1,200 men.

In Costa Rica, Juan Mora-Porras, the President, guessed the intentions of Walker and on the 27th of February 1856 declared war on Nicaragua and called all Costa Ricans to join forces and fight, a call that is heeded. An alliance of hostile Central American states formed between Costa Rica and El Salvador heading the effort. Mora saw this as an enormous opportunity to invade the area of Guanacaste, where the San Juan River flowed. Costa Rica had never mobilized together in a war before, but Mora quickly organized 9,000 volunteers.

They advanced on the 4th of March from San Jose to the northern border, led by the President, arriving in Liberia the 12 of March, where they joined the Granada- Nicaraguan battalion organized there (Moracia Battalion), under the leadership of José María Cañas.

After establishing several garrisons, Mora led the remaining 3,000 of his men, armed with rifles, sabers, and bayonets, began the attack, to the town of Santa Rosa, Costa Rica, which bordered Guanacaste. Walker’s 240 troops were already encamped there under the command of the unqualified Colonel Louis Schlessinger. On March 20, Mora’s Costa Ricans surprised and attacked the small group and Schlessinger fled, leaving his troops without leadership.

Mora quickly slipped into Rivas with 3,000 men. Walker then, just four days after giving up the city, marched his men back into Rivas to try to take it back. On April 11, the Costa Ricans fired on Walker’stroops as they entered Rivas. Walker managed to drive the Costa Ricans out and into the street. Street fighting lasted all afternoon which resulted in severe losses for both sides. During this, Walker and many of his men were holding out in a thatched roof building which was torched by a brave but suicidal attempt. Walker and his men fled to safety in another building and then withdrew from the city during the night. Walker gained absolutely nothing and his force was severely weakened. Costa Rica was victorious in the Second Battle of Rivas (or the 1856 Battle of Riva).

The Battle of Rivas marked the beginning of the end for Walker. On Sept 14, At the Battle of San Jacinto, Nicaragua’s Granada supporters defeated Walker and the Leonese again. With militant opposition from Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, and even from within Nicaragua. The Guatemala advance was stopped by Walker’s Nicaraguan allies on October 3 at Masha. But the Guatemalan forces regrouped and after a three day battle (Nov 15-18) again at Masha prevailed and routed the pro-Walker forces. The Guatemala troops then proceeded to attack Granada’s garrison in late November.

Walker abandoned Central America and left behind most of his weak army in May 1857. He returned to the United States. Once again he was tried and found not guilty of filibustering and, three years later, tried again in Central America. From the Islas de la Bahía of Honduras, Walker made a final abortive attempt (1860) to conquer Central America but was forced to surrender to the British navy. He was turned over to Honduras and was shot by a firing squad Sept. 12, 1860.

William Walker In Mexico and Nicauragua

In Mexico
In Nicauragua
Bibliography
Wargaming The Walker Filibuster Adventures